The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-15
PERIOD I.

In 1904 Judge Oycrton bought for 500
h Chickasaw bluff tract from Elisha Rice.
The next day after the purchase an undi-
vided half interest In the land was ron
vcyed 10 Gen. Andrew jackson, tho two
being bosom friends and partners In many
land purchases. The tract was n 5000
sore one, entered IN the land office of John
Armstrong at Hillsboro, N. q. The In.
dian title had not then been cxtinguished.
while settlers were few aud far between,
md Judge Oyerton's foresight In locating
The mouth OF Vol river must have been
tcmarkablc. The soil was claimed by the
Chickasaws, but used rather Ms a hunting
ground than as n place for settled habiia.
e,on. On the 10Th Of October, 1918. a
trcsiy was signed with the Indians by
Isaac Shelby and Gen. Jackson, under aI-
pointmcnt Of President Madison. This
Treaty stipulated that the Clieknsaws sur
gcndcrcd all claim ~ lands lying north oi
The Tcnpcsscc boundary.
v In the year 1919 Front. Main, Second
and Third streets were laid of from Bayou
Gayoro 30 Union street. Judge Oycrton
and Gen. Winchester wcrr ON the accne.
Bcn. Jackson was In Florida, but Judge
Ovcrton held the power Of attorney from
him. AZ that time the river flowed nj the
base oil the bluff, and there WIS no bat
ture. Wolf river flowed into the Mi-siss-
ippi alta point opposite where the county
jail nov stands.
In $50 Gen. jackson addressed n com.
municaiion 10 the Portfolio, a Philadelphia
publication, In which he employed glow.
ing tenns 10 describe the new town oi
Memphis. Its plan and local situation
uce such m ~ authorize the expectation
That II was destined 10 become n
great city. At that time 962
lots wcrc designated upons iis plot.
Thcr wer four public squares in different
parts OF the town, and between the front
lots and the river an ample vacant place
scscryed ~ a promenade. II possesses all
The noecSSary climatic and atmospheric
: conditions. It's superiority over the lew
situations Of high ground ON the Mississippi
river we're vinccd by the French selecting
a. ~ early M 1888, for a garrison. Whilst
Louisiana WINS In the possession Of Spain
Chickasaw bluif was again chosen as a
healthy and commanding site for q similar
eNfablrhmcnt. A fort and garrison had
Err butt siri u%urupici, and the adinccnt
land cleancd and cultivated for many years
anterior 10 their being surrendered 10 the
United states, agrrcahly % the treaty 81
y lldcionso. The general afierward sold
MS inicrtis here b. John &. Mclnmonc.
In 1919 the iint tavern Wa opened in
tb,s city By Col samuel X. Brown. II was
sdoublc log housc, situated on tho north
1ine OF Auction street, opposite the SQUARE.
ihe %ooloncTs means wco limited, hut his
Trs0nncce boundlcSS the latter happy
.acuhy probably accounting for his title.
for more Than twenty ycans the colonel
hcd ifuim one ~ three oliOcs, nll
by appointment lie was tho nut
shcnn Of shelby county. serving two
terms, Then applied Tor aud secured the
e.crkship 81 the Ccuit aud court IL
LPleas and quarter sessions. The office Of
mngismie being open, lac applied for and
was appointed to that This was uuite
handy, ~ he could, as magistrate, bind q
fellow over and thus ct two or mor fees
out OF him. lie could al-p, M clerk " the
court issue n license Ia himself 10 marry q
eouplc, aud then, by virtue Of the power
ifnn himself 10 himself, solcmnizo the
nup,ials.
Ihe period prior to incorporation, De.
esmlrr, 1920, vas marked by many stir.
nng events peculiar 10 pioneer sclilc.
mems The village had iis oracle In the
shape Of Ike" Rawlings, who proudly
boe The distinction Of being the first
Trader. His store finally became n cunoe-
ny shop, where the %ncighbor could OBJ
tmn anything. from q chew oi twist to-
osoco 10 a lecture on the souls salvation,
~ a learned 90 legal opinion. The irst
IVA who encountered Ike was Mai.
4Iarrus H. Winchester, who, coninry 10
lht pioneers predictions. ilourishcd like
unto the water oak. Then there were dis
einguished visitors from time 10 time,
emong whom were Dayy Crockett An
drw jackson. Thomas II. Benton, LORENZO
Dow, ex-lfesidcnt Martin Van Buren,, and
othcn. Altogether, everything, from the
Int Indicated that the fate OF the new
own 10 become n grcai city was irrcprcssi-